Cycling in Austin

For
my 3rd birthday, apparently all I wanted was to have my training wheels removed
from my bike. My father was skeptical, but aparently I was adamant.
I got my wish, and started riding a two wheeler exactly 3 years after the
day I was born -- no problem. It is one of my first memories in my
life, riding around the back yard with no training wheels.

That was 35 years ago. And to this day, I can still ride without training wheels.

Cycling is such an elegant sport. Man and machine working together.
And not just any machine -- the most efficient form of transportation there
is.

I love cycling, even though I'm really not built for it. I'm over six feet
tall, and I weigh about 220 pounds. Most cyclists are small, light
guys. I have the build to be a good boxer or a football player. But I love
cycling. I love getting away from everything for hours at a time --
clearing my head -- thinking deep thoughts. There is something about
the combination of isolation and exercise that lets me think with greater
clarity.

I love the hills out West of Austin the most. They're so pretty, and
climbing a good hill gives a big guy like me a sense of satisfaction and
accomplishment.

By the way, if you are curious, here are my picks for
the worst (toughest) hills in Austin.

Ladera Norte: This is
my pick for the toughest hill in Austin. It is insane. The lower
slopes are steep and demoralizing, and then you get to the top, and it gets
even steeper. It's horrible.

To get there, go out Far West until it forces you to turn right on Ladera Norte and start climbing.

Jester: This is everybody
else's pick for the toughest hill in Austin. It is a half-mile slog
with a 15 percent grade. It is quite challenging, I grant you, but
Ladera Norte is worse.

Every year, there is a race up Jester called the "King of Jester." It's a good bit of fun.

To get there, go West out 2222 past Loop 360. Turn right on Jester and start climbing.

The back side of Jester is a street called Beauford Drive -- this is another
VERY steep hill -- definitely more difficult to climb than Jester.

Mt. Bonnell: Start at Edgemont Drive. The climb is about a half mile,
and it is steepest at the top. The descent on the other side going
down to 2222 is a whole lot of fun.

Spicewood Springs Road:
Start at Loop 360. This road is very busy and does not have a shoulder.
It is not a long hill, but it is quite steep.

Across the street is Bluegrass Drive, which is also fairly steep, and which has considerably less traffic.

Mesa Drive: If you come
down Mt. Bonnell to 2222, you are in a good position to climb back out of
the valley on Mesa Drive. The climb is about a mile -- never too steep,
but it does wear you down.